Every year, farmers in Louisiana burn the waste from sugar cane to make the harvest easier.
If you live in Louisiana, you are probably familiar with sugar cane burning, the practice of burning the waste from the sugar cane plant to remove it from the fields during the harvest. All throughout the autumn, huge dark clouds of smoke rise from cane fields across the state, spreading soot and ash over neighboring towns. Farmers say the burns are the only economically viable way of removing the cane waste, or "trash", from the fields, and their argument is supported by data from Louisiana State University showing that burning saves farmers cumulatively about $120 million per year.
Nevertheless, some Louisiana residents and medical professionals are concerned about the health implications of the yearly burning season. Pediatric asthma and allergy specialist J. Brent Prather told The Advertiser, "For 33 years I've seen an uptick in asthma flare ups during this time and occasionally some very, very sick children". However, children aren't the only ones affected: The thick blanket of ash and soot that descends on towns after the burning also affects adult sufferers of respiratory conditions like emphysema and bronchitis.
In August, a new law went into effect in Louisiana giving the Department of Agriculture and Forestry authority to hear and investigate complaints related to sugar cane burning. However, agency representatives say that they have barely received any complaints since the law went into effect. This means that the burning season has continued with little to no oversight from the state.
If you live in Louisiana and need a method for managing your asthma or other respiratory conditions during the burning season, a home air purifier may be a great help to you. Contact US Air Purifiers for advice on finding the best air purifier for smoke.